Manchester United Reportedly Recruit Manchester City Scouts in Academy Revamp

Manchester United have reportedly secured the services of academy scouts Dave Harrison and Lyndon Tomlinson from Manchester City. 

That’s according to James Ducker of the Daily Telegraph, who has reported that the Red Devils are keen to gain an edge over their local rivals in the battle to secure the best academy prospects. It’s a process that’s led them to Harrison and Tomlinson, who have reportedly been placed on gardening leave by City.

In the report, it’s suggested the pair will take up their new roles at Old Trafford on January 1 as part of a “drastic overhaul” of the youth setup at United.

The two will arrive to work alongside former Ajax scout Henny de Regt, as well as academy chief Nicky Butt.

“Harrison and Tomlinson were instrumental in implementing a framework that has put City at the forefront of the search for the stars of tomorrow, both domestically and overseas, and left many of their rivals frantically trying to keep pace,” added Ducker.

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United’s academy has been lauded in the past and continues to produce exciting prospects. Marcus Rashford’s stunning emergence in 2016 is testament to the excellent work that’s been done at the club in the past.

City, by contrast, have struggled to integrate youth prospects into the first team, although what the club have done tremendously is secure some of the game’s finest emerging stars. One, Gabriel Jesus, will arrive at the club in January, and he looks to be a superb prospect, per BigSport:

Clearly, securing the best local youngsters is something City are seeking to invest in. The Etihad Stadium club have an excellent setup at the academy containing some of the very best facilities in the world game, and that'll naturally attract best youth players in the city.

Even so, losing Tomlinson and Harrison, who has been at the club since 2009, will be a big blow to the blue side of Manchester and their attempts to lure rising stars to City. According to Ducker, to prevent a “brain drain” of their best youth staff, the club will now look to tie down some of their most vital personnel to long-term deals.